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5 Sheets-Sheet 1,

(No Model.)

G. W. TANNER.

CIGAR MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

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G. W. TANNER.

GIGAR MACHINE.

No. 340,741. Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

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G. W. TANNER.

CIGAR MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

INVENTUF.

(No Model'.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

G. W. TANNER.

' CIGAR MACHINE.

No. 340,741. 0 Patented Apr. 27, 1886. 25

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

G. W. TANNER.

GIGAR MACHINE. No. 340,741. Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE Vt. TANNER, OF PROVIDENCE, RIIODE ISLAND.

CIGAR-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,741, dated April27, 1886.

Application filed August 5, 1884. Serial No. 139,673.

To CbZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. TANNER, of the' city and county ofProvidence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Cigar-Machines, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forminga part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a machine by means of which aquantity of loose tobacco, either long or short filling, sufficient toform a cigar-bunch, is, after being boundin an inside wrapper or hinder,molded and covered with the outside wrapper.

My invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features ofconstruction and arrangement of various parts or devices constitutingthe machine, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed todescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is frontelevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a top viewof the same in closed condition. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same inopen condition. Fig. 4 is atransverse vertical section of the machine.on the line45 of Fig. 1, showing the machine in closed condition. Fig. 5is a similar view on the line 4 5 of Fig. 1, showing the machine in opencondition. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of the machine on theline 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the inner faceplate,showing also the gears for operating the rolls. Fig. 8 is a verticallongitudinal section of the roll-gear casing,with the central shaft, thegears, and rolls in operative position, the section being taken on theline 8 8 of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section of themachine on theline 9 9 of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a similar View 011thelinelO 10 of Fig. 1. Fig. 11 isa similar View on the line 11 ll ofFig. 1. Fig. 12 is a view in side elevation of the rolls and their gearsin detached condition. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the bellied cigarformed by the rolls shownin Fig. 12. Fig. 14 isa view in side elevationofa modified form of rolls and their gears in detached condition. Fig.15 is aside elevation of a straight cigar formed by the rolls shown inFig. 14. Fig.

(N0 model.)

16 is a front elevation of one of the detachable bearing'blocks. Fig. 17is a side elevation of the same.

-Heretofore in making cigars the bunches have been rolled in the insidewrapper or binder and then placed in forming-molds, by which therequired shape is given to the bunch. After this the molded and boundbunch was supplied with its outside wrapper, either by hand or bymachinery.

As I manufacture cigars, the bunches are simply rolled in the binders,and are then fed into my improved machine, which molds the bound bunchesand places the outside wrappers upon them.

The rolls are so mounted in my improved machine as to be readily removedand others substituted when cigars of different shapes and sizes are tobe molded and wrapped. The cavity or mold which forms the tips of the cigars is of such form as to prevent the dislocation of the tip from thecavity or mold during the operation of the machine, and the outer endsof the rolls are mounted in detachable blocks, which form a continuationof the tipcavity, and may be quickly disconnected from the side piecesand end piece ofthe frame when either the blocks or the frame-piecesbecome worn. The surfaces of the rolls are recessed in such manner thatthe space inclosed by the rolls constitutes a mold in which the cigar iscalipered or made exactly of the size and shape required bythe rolls.

The operating-gears and the connections for opening and closing themachine are all inclosed within the machine-frame.

In the said drawings, A designates the pedestal or base upon which theoperative parts of the machine are mounted. At its lower end thispedestal is provided with the foot a, by means of which the machine isscrewed or bolted to the workmans bench or table.

B designates a horizontal bar or support, which is cast or secured uponthe upper part of the pedestal A and extends oppositely from the sidesthereof.

C designates the annular frame or housing, which is secured to thelefthand end of the support B by means of the downwardly-extending lugc, as is shown in Fig. 1. This housing will be particularly describedhereiuafter. To theopposite end of the support is secured the uprightend piece, 12, which carries the bearing-blocks for the outer ends ofthe rolls.

D designates the two movable side pieces, which serve to place themachine in open and closed condition.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, 7, and 8, I will describe the constructionof the closed housing 0 and the operative mechanism located therein. Atone side of the frame 0 is formed a boss or bearing, 0, in which ismounted the drivingshaft E, which carries on its outerend thedriving-wheel c. This wheel is peripherally grooved and carries ahandle, so that the machine may be operated either by power through asuitable driving-belt working in the groove, or by hand applied to thehandle.

The driving-shaft E also carries a pinion, e,

which meshes with the pinionfupon the counter-shaft F. The shaft Fextends centrally and horizontally through a plug, 0, which is threadedinto the annular body of the frame 0, as is clearly shown in Fig. 8. Theinner face of the plug 0 is recessed or depressed, as shown, so as toform an annular marginal flange, c

0 designates a face-plate which closes the inner side of the open frame0, and is held between an annular inturned lip, c formed on the innerside of the frame O,and the inner end of the flange The shaft F isprovided with a eollar,f, which abuts against the in-' ner face of theplug 0, for the purpose of holding said shaft in its normal workingposition. At its inner end the shaft carries a pinion, f, which mesheswith and drives the pinions of the rolls, hereinafter described.

Upon the inner face of the plate C is formed a segmental boss, 0, whichis disposed as shown in Fig. 11, and lies just below the center of theplate. This boss constitutes the bearings for the three lower rolls, G GG", the spindles of which extend clearthrough the boss and beyond theinner side of the plate 0 At their ends the rolls carry, respectively,the pinions g gg all of which mesh into the pinion f z on the shaft F.These rolls may be termed the fixed rolls, in eontradistinction to therolls which move toward and away from each other in order to place themachine in closed and open condition. These movable rolls will bepresently described.

c c designate two triangular or three-sided plates, each of which ispivoted at 0, upon the upper part of the outer side of the plate Ctandthrough each of which is formed a slot, 0 through which extend thespindles of the movable rolls G G*. The spindles of these rolls alsoextend through slots 0 a, formed through the plate 0 the arrangementbeing such that whichever way the rolls G G are moved the plates 0 willmove with them and close the slots 0 so that no clippings or dust mayenter the space inclosed within the frame 0 by the plug 0 and plate C Attheirinner ends the spindles of the rolls G G carry the pinions g, whichmesh with the pinion) when the machine is in closed condition, and whichare carried out of engagement with the pinion f when the machine is inopen condition,so that when the machine is in open copdition the rolls GG are idle, and when the machine is in closed condition the said rollsare brought into action.

At the driving end of the machine the movable side pieces, D, carry eacha plate or extension, (2, in the upper part of each of which is an eyeor hole, through which ey'es extend the spindles of the rolls G G*. Inthe lower part of each plate (1 is also formed a similar eye or hole,through which extend the spindles of the fixed rolls G G so that theside frames are pivoted at the driving end of the machine upon thespindles of the'rolls G G.

Deferring, for the moment, a description of certain devices foroperating the movable side pieces, D, and for holding the bound bunchunder the action of the rolls, I will now describe the arrangementsconnected with the mold for the cigar-tip and for holding the outer endsof the rolls.

H H (see Figs. 6, 16, and 17) designate the two blocks which support theouter ends of the side pieces, D, and in which the outer ends of therolls G G G G are supported. The spindles of the rolls G G rest insockets or bearings which are formed in the inner side of the uprightend piece, 11, and upon these spindles are pivoted the detachable blocksH, by means of their lugs h, each of which is formed with an eye throughwhich the spindle of the roll passes, as is shown in Figs. 16 and 17.Just above the, lug h of each block is formed an extension, h, which isseparated from the lug by a curved recess, h into which works acorrespondingly-shaped extension upon the end piece, d, which serves toguide the block in its movements. A recess or socket is formed in theextension of each block H,and these eyes serve as bearings for thespindles of the rolls G G", as is shown in Fig. 6. The spindle of theroll G has its bearings in the end piece, d, as is shown in Fig. 6.

d designates the cavity or mold, which receivesthe point or tip of thebound bunch during the operation of molding and wrapping- This cavity ormold is of such form as to corre spond to the intended shape of the tipand is formed in the upper end of the upright end piece, d. A carefulexamination of Fig. 6 will disclose the fact that theinne r margin-lineofthe cavity (1 describes a curve of more than half a circle in extent,and this indicates the general form of the cavity,which is of coursewider and deeper at its inner end and decreases in width and depthtoward its outer end, which is a mere point. This peculiar form of themold-cavity constitutes an important and valuable feature of myinvention, and its purpose will be hereinafter fully explained. Thosepoints of the blocks H which lie directly above the cavity (1 when themachine is in closed condition are formed with curved recesses, whichconstitute a continuation of the contour of the cavity d and correspondwith it in form in such manner as to complete the circular recess inwhich the tip is formed. The upper portion of the block H, at the leftside of the end piece in Fig. 6, is formed with an extension, h, whichoverlaps the contiguous face of the opposite block, and thus completelyincloses the recess for the tip. Each block H is formed on its innerface with two pins, h, which fit into corresponding recesses in thecontiguous ends of the side pieces, D.

72. designates a screw, which passes from without longitudinally throughthe block and cnters a threaded cavity in the end of the side piece, D,so that by the combined action of the screw and pins of each block it issecured to the side piece and moves therewith. The required movements ofthe side pieces, D, are produced by means ofa rod, I, which extendsvertically upward into the pedestal A, and to the lower end of which maybe connected a footlever. WVithin the pedestal A, which is hollow,isplaced an invertedcup-shaped slide, 1, Within which and surroundingthe rod 1 is confined a spiral spring, 1, which acts expansively to holdthe slide 1 in elevated condition. Upon the upper end of the slide 1 areformed two oppositely-extending lugs, 23, each of which works in avertical slotin the pedestal A. To the outer ends of the lugs 11 arepivoted the lower ends of the links i", the upper ends of which arehinged to lugs d", which are formed upon the side pieces, D. Thus itwill be seen that the machine remains normally in closed condition,owing to the action of the spring '6, and that it is opened by pullingdownward upon the rod I. The upward movement of the slide 1 is limitedbya screw. j, which extends downward through a cap, J', secured upon thetop of the standard A. The screwj is held at any desired point ofadjustment by a locking-nut, j.

K designates a gage or slide which lies within the space inclosed by therolls, and-the object of which is to press against the lighting end ofthe bound bunch during the operation of molding and wrapping, for thepurpose of pressing and holding the tip into the cavity d". This gage orslide is mounted on a shaft, 7;, through the medium of an arm, k, andthe shaft is works in a recess or channel in the front side piece D. Ahandle, K, by which the gage or slide is operated, is secured to theshaft and extends through a longitudinal slot in the piece D.

-In Figs. 12 and 14 I have shown two styles of rolls. That shown in Fig.12 is for the purpose of forming the bellied cigar shown in Fig. 13, andthe depressions in the rolls are of such form as to correspond with theshape of the cigar-that is to say, such depressions are deep andcomparatively short. The rolls shown in Fig. let are for forming thestraight cigar shown in Fig. 15, and the depressions are comparativelyshallow and longer. The purpose of illustrating these two sets of rollsis to show the purpose of so constructing the machine as to render itcapable of readily receiving different sets of rolls, which isaccomplished by unscrewing the plug C, and withdrawing the face-plate Cand one set of rolls from the frame 0, and then insertinganothersimilar-face-plate with a dilferent set of rolls, after which theplug C, with its counter-shaft F, is screwed into the frame 0. Previousto removing the plug Cf with its counter-shaft it is necessary to removethe driving-wheel and its attached pinion from the shaft E, which isreadily done by removing the screw which usually secures such wheels totheir shafts. The rolls, when the machine is in closed condition and isin operation, caliper the cigars-that is to say, form them into uniformshape during the molding.

The machine is compact, simple, and durable in construction, and iseasily operated.

All of the working parts of the machine are protected against theentrance of dirt, dust, or pieces of tobacco, and such parts as mayeventually become worn or injured in any way may be quickly removed, andnew parts may be readily substituted.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: The proper set ofrolls being placed in the machine, the side pieces, D, are separated bya downward movement of the rod and the bound bunch is placed upon theroll G. The pressure upon the rod 1 is then removed, and the spring i ispermitted to close the machine. The gage or slide K is now brought upagainst the lighting end of the bunch, and the tip of said hunch isgradually forced into the mold d. The machine is now placed in motion,and as the hunch is rotated the rolls caliper it and mold itinto shape.The wrapper is then curled upon the bunch. The workman has only toproperly guide the wrapper into the machine over the front side piece D,and the rolls will properly lay the wrapper. Owing to the peculiar formof the cavity (1 the tip cannot possibly be thrown out of the cavityduring the rotation of the bunch, and consequently the wrapper will beproperly rolled upon the tip. After the wrapping, pressure is againapplied to the rod 1, the cigar is taken out of the machine, and theabovedescribcd operations are repeated.

I do not wish to be understood as confining myself exclusively to theprecise construction of parts as above described, as my inventioncontemplates numerous modifications in mere details of construction-as,for instance, the bearing-blocks H may be formed integral with the sidepieces, D, without changing the peculiar character of the tip cavity ormold, and withoutlessening the efficiency of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to seen reby Letters Patent 1. In acigar-machine, the combinatiomwith a standardlocated at one end of the moldingrolls, and having a tip-cavity, d of apairof IIO co-operatin g separable blocks suitably recessed and pivotedto said standard, for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with a standard having a tip-cavity, d", and locatedat one end of the rolls contained in the movable side pi ces,

"which are each secured to a separable block suitably recessed andpivoted to said stand ard, of a sliding gage, K, located at the otherend of said rolls, for the purpose described.

3. In a cigar-machine, a pair of blocks separably secured to the movableside pieces of the frame and containing the bearings forthe rolls, andalso provided with recesses to complete the form of the tip-cavity,substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the frame A B, of the closed housing 0, themovable side pieces, D, and the separable blocks H, constructed andarranged as described.

5. Thecombination, with the frame A B. the closed housing 0, the sidepieces. D, and the separable blocks H, of the shaft F, carrying thepinions f and the rolls G G G G G, carrying the pinions g 1 g g, and theconnections for operating the side pieces, as described.

, 6. The combination, with the pedestal A, the support B, carrying thehousing 0 and end piece,d, side pieces, D, and the hinged blocks H, ofthe driving-shaft E, carrying the pinion e, the plug 0', carrying theshaft F, withits pinionsff the face-plate G the rolls G G G G" G, withtheir pinions, the blocks H, and the red I, slide 1, spring i, and linksi all constructed and arranged substantially as shown 8.Inacigar-machine,thecombination,with

the closed housing having the slotted faceplate and the movable rolls,of the pivoted plates connected with said rolls and arranged to closethe slots in the face-plate when the machine is opened, substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination, in a cigar-machine, of the pedestal and support, thefixed rolls mounted thereon, the side pieces supporting the movablerolls, and the spring-pressed slide 1, the arms, and the treadle, as andfor the purposes set forth.

10. The combination, with the pedestal A, the support B, carryingthehousing 0 and end piece, (2, side pieces, D, hinged block H, and gage orslide K, of the driving-shaft E, carrying the pinion e, the plug O,carrying shaft F, with its pinionsff", the face-plate C the rolls G GG'G G", with their pinions, the blocks H, the rod I, slide 1, spring z,and links i as described.

11. The combination, with the standard (I, having the tip-cavity d", ofthe separable blocks H H, pivoted to said standard (I, for the purposedescribed.

GEORGE WV. TANNER. lVitnesses':

J. A. MILLER, J r. M. F. BLIGI-I.

